Papua New Guinea: Highlands Earthquake Situation Report No. 2 (as of 14 March 2018)

reliefweb.int
March 14, 2018

This report (click to get PDF of full report) is produced by the National Disaster Centre, the Office of the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Coordination and Assessment (UNDAC) Team in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued by the Disaster Management Team Secretariat. It covers the period from 10 March to 14 March 2018. The next report will be issued on or around 16 March 2018.

Background

According to initial estimates, over 544,000 people are affected across the five most affected provinces. Over 270,000 people require immediate humanitarian assistance.

Priority needs include medicine, tarpaulins and tents, blankets, food, and water.

The Government, private companies and humanitarian partners have focused initial relief efforts on communities in the worst-hit seven Local Level Government (LLGs) in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

Main roads linking Hela and Southern Highlands provinces have been cleared, but many communities can only be reached with air assets.

The Government has established Forward Operating Bases in Mt. Hagen and Moro, as well as Emergency Operations Centres in Mendi and Tari.

544,368 affected people

270,442 people in need of assistance

18,200 displaced in 26 informal care centres

7 LLGs prioritized for urgent assistance

Situation Overview

The National Disaster Centre (NDC) estimates that around 544,000 people have been affected in five provinces and that more than 270,000 people are in immediate need of assistance. According to the Government, the death toll has reached more than 100 people. Reports from provincial disaster offices confirm 37 deaths in Southern Highlands Province, mostly in the Mendi area due to landslides and collapsing walls, over 300 injured people. The Western Provincial Disaster Office has confirmed 13 people killed, three injured and another three missing. Many reports of casualties across the affected provinces remain to be confirmed. The full impact is likely to remain unclear as many areas remain difficult to reach.

Based on preliminary estimates, earthquake intensity mapping and assessment data, the Government has prioritized:

37,689 people most severely affected and in need of immediate assistance in 7 LLGs1 in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces;

232,753 people affected and needing assistance in Hela and Southern Highlands and some areas in Western Province; and

273,926 people affected covering remaining areas in Hela, Southern Highlands, and many communities in Western and Enga provinces.

Many locals are traumatized and afraid of returning to their homes, and staying in informal care centres or with family or community members. Displacement tracking has been rolled out in the 7 most affected LLGs to assist in identifying the needs of the displaced communities. Currently, households are living in clans within the care centres (health facility, schools, churches and host communities). While estimates are difficult given the nomadic nature of the population and the fluctuations between night and day populations in the care centres, approximately 18,200 people are displaced and staying in informal care centres, with thousands more staying with families and host communities. Data collected from Komo-Magarima District’s, Hides 4 in Komo LLG, Timu and Lau in Hulia Beneria LLG show that there is an estimated total of 7,000 displaced persons with the majority being women - Hides 4 (63%) and Timu (55%), and there are more males (54%) than females in Lau. Displaced communities and households have restricted movement and access to available services due to fear of their tribal enemies.

A number of health facilities have been damaged, some significantly, while many more remain inaccessible. According to the Hela Provincial Health Authority, there are 34 operational health facilities in Hela comprising Tari provincial hospital, 4 health centres and 29 sub-health centres. In Southern Highlands Province, the main referral hospital is functioning, but the operating theatre is not functioning as the anesthesia machine was damaged in the earthquake. In addition to health facility damage and destruction, many health workers have lost their homes, including on-site accommodation at the Mendi hospital and staff accommodation at most health centres in Hela Province. Across both provinces, water systems and cold chain in health facilities are damaged or destroyed, including tanks, pumps, power systems, and refrigeration systems for vaccines. Surveillance systems are not functional, leaving the population highly vulnerable to outbreak risks.

The principle water sources for people in the highlands before the earthquake had been surface water and rainwater collection systems. Many of the water sources have been affected and/or depleted by the earthquakes. Rainwater collection systems have been damaged or destroyed. With no access to safe and clean water, waterborne disease outbreaks, such as diarrhoea, already among the principal causes of under-5 mortality, are most likely to occur. This risk is further compounded by the destruction of sanitation facilities and unsafe hygiene practices. Open defecation in rural communities is widespread. The National Department of Health, supported by partners, are conducting water quality assessments of water sources in Southern Highlands Province and downstream locations in Gulf Province.

Partners are scaling up humanitarian relief efforts and are gaining access to more communities, although there are still unmet needs in many areas. The remoteness and access constraints create logistical challenges and while no major security incidents have been reported, many affected areas have a history of tribal conflict and volatility. To date, most of the main road linking Hela and Southern Highlands provinces have been cleared allowing vehicles carrying relief supplies to pass. Some roads remain blocked with ongoing construction work, but should be opened in the coming week. Due to the ongoing seismic activity and rain, contractors are assigned to station at certain points of the main roads to monitor and clear the roads to allow an uninterrupted flow of vehicles. Remote locations with no road access are still being reached by fixed and rotary wing assets.

Americares responds to Papua New Guinea earthquake

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Stamford, Conn. – March 14, 2018 – An Americares emergency team is headed to Papua New Guinea where more than 270,000 people are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake.
The full extent of the damage is still unknown more than two weeks after the Feb 26 earthquake.
Aftershocks, landslides and blocked roads are hampering the relief efforts.
Local officials are reporting at least 125 people have died and tens of thousands have been forced from their homes.
Survivors desperately need medicine, tarps, blankets, food and water, according to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team.
 Those displaced include traumatised survivors afraid to return home due to aftershocks.
“Our first priority is ensuring survivors have access to critical health services,” said Americares vice-president of emergency programmes Kate Dischino.
 “Once we have a team on the ground we will have a better understanding of the situation and the most urgent needs.”
Americares, a health-focused relief and development organisation, is prepared to deliver medicine and relief supplies and support the restoration of health services for survivors.
Emergency response experts from Americares offices in the United States and the Philippines will deploy this week.
Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, increase access to medicine and medical supplies, improve and expand clinical services, prevent disease and promote good health.
 Its emergency response team responds to an average of 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year from earthquakes and cyclones to disease outbreaks and civil conflict.

Police update on earthquake relief efforts

Story by Police Media Unit

Major relief efforts are now underway following the major earthquake that struck Hela and the Southern Highlands provinces.

A massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Southern Highlands and Hela in the early hours on Monday,  Feb 26, and since then continuous aftershocks have been felt all over the two provinces.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police and Commander Highlands Western End Kaiglo Ambane, police have set up two Relief Operations Command Centres.

They are in Tari at the Curtain Brothers camp site and the other one in Mendi at Mendi Police Training Cell where officials are collecting reports and coordinating relief operations.

The worst-hit areas in the Southern Highlands are Mendi/Munhiu, Karins, Lai Valley, Kandep-Mendi border, Pangia and Nipa/Kutubu. 

In Hela , areas mostly affected are Komo-Margarima, Tari, Koroba and Mt Bosavi areas.

From the reports received at the command centres, 45 have died so far in the Southern Highlands and in Hela 80 people are confirmed dead. 

It is expected that the figure might increase once all people have been accounted for.

In addition, there were three major land slips at the sections of Mendi-Karinj Road, and Poroma and-Kutubu Road. 

Access to Kutubu was blocked but was cleared last Thursday. 

Mendi-Kandep Road is still blocked off and work is in progress to reopen the land. 

Debris of land slips from Mt Hagen to Mendi and from Mendi to Tari have been cleared.

A few cracks along the Highlands Highway have been secured to one-lane passage from Wara Agule to Mendi.

  Moreover, over 15, 000 people were reported displaced in the Southern Highlands. 

Most of those people were put into seven care centres – five at the Kutubu area and one each at Poroma and Mendi/Munhiu district.

 In Hela, total reported displaced is about 20,000 of which 16,000 from Komo area. 

Care centres are being set up around the air fields throughout the Hela Province.

Ambane said three secondary schools in Mendi, Nipa and Kutubu were badly affected by the earthquake and still remain closed. 

Mendi Nursing College and Kutubu Technical College also remain closed.

 In Hela, all schools are affected and remained closed.

Government officials sent to the districts are still making assessments and collecting data on deaths and destructions caused in the two provinces.

In Southern Highlands,  the Department of Works and the PNG Defence Force have made assessments on the roads and the clearing exercise is progressing well.

In terms of security, one PNGDF Platoon with two Sections of MS10 are on the ground in Mendi with other police Units throughout the province are assisting.

 “So far there are no problems with security in the Southern Highlands Province,”  Ambane said.

Security personnel in Hela include 45 PNGDF personnel, 17 Correctional Services officers and local police personnel.

Ambane said an additional mobile squad team was required in Hela. 

He said Provincial Administrator William Bando was seeking approval from the National Disaster Office for funding before engaging the squad.

ExxonMobil PNG supports reestablishment of healthcare in the Highlands

Story and pictures by ExxonMobil PNG

Port Moresby – Supporting the restoration of health facilities in the Highlands for the recovery of the communities is one of the ways that ExxonMobil PNG is supporting the nation’s relief efforts following the devastation of the earthquake on Feb 26.
ExxonMobil PNG managing-director Andrew Barry said: “Several of the health centers in the communities near our Hides Gas Conditioning Plant have been damaged or have been displaced following the earthquake.

ExxonMobil PNG managing-director Andrew Barry and company volunteers packing food supply to be sent up to Moro.

" In addition to assisting with delivering critical medical kits, we are helping with assessments and providing logistics support to the health workers, as relief agencies work to re-establish health services in affected communities.”
Meanwhile, deliveries of food, water supplies, tarpaulins for shelter as well as medical and hygiene kits continue for communities across the Highlands including Kutubu in the Southern Highlands, Hulia, Tari, Hayapuga and Komo in the Hela Province and Huiya in Western province.

ExxonMobil PNG volunteers packing food supply to be sent up to Moro.

ExxonMobil PNG has so far delivered over 20 tonnes of food and water, over 200 tarpaulins and 35 hygiene kits in addition to support for relief agencies that require transport for their workers to affected areas.
For the longer term, ExxonMobil PNG is planning to support the re-establishment of food gardens in a number of our project area communities, with its partners from the ANU Enterprise (ANUE), through its existing community livelihoods improvement program.
“Similar to healthcare, the re-establishment of food supplies for the community here is going to be important in the following weeks and months," Barry said.
"Our ANUE partners have indicated they will be looking to get back into the field shortly to help address the critical need to re-establish food gardens in communities near our facilities."

ExxonMobil PNG volunteers packing food supply to be sent up to Moro.

ANUE project-manager Owen Hughes said: “We have been working with ExxonMobil PNG and target communities in the Hides area since operations began in 2014 to address food security, vulnerabilities and income generation.
"To support the restoration of communities recovering from the earthquake, our teams are currently preparing to get into the field to assist them with initial planting materials so that they will be able to grow their own food again."
Plans by ANUE include issuing to some 2,500 families quick-growing corn seed that can be harvested within 100 days of planting, and the purchase and distribution of vegetative cuttings for longer-term staples like sweet potato and cassava.
ANUE will also be providing garden tools for people to cultivate their gardens again.
Said Barry: “ExxonMobil PNG is committed to supporting the long-term recovery of quake-impacted communities around the Hela, Southern Highlands and Western provinces and will continue working closely with relief agencies and the National Disaster Centre in its efforts.”

Four-year old Sosa getting medical attention at Moro clinic

Story and pictures by Oil Search Ltd

Four-year old Sosa Sammy hung on tightly to her dad as they disembarked from a helicopter at Oil Search’s Moro logistic base on Tuesday.

Young Soso Sammy with her dad at the Oil Search clinic at Moro.

She has just completed her first ever helicopter ride – a 15 to 20-minute flight from her Huiya village in Mt Bosavi – one of the worst hit areas by the February 26 earthquake.
Sadly, she was travelling with a fractured arm.
Sosa was evacuated to the Moro clinic by the Oil Search emergency medical response team who identified her injury during their visit, taking in food, other relief aid and medicine, as well as conducting on the spot medical assessments of patients at all locations they are visiting.
Oil Search to date has visited 24 villages and conducted on the spot medical treatments and health assessments.
According to Sammy, his family was fast asleep when their house, a traditional kunai grass thatched roof started shaking. Everyone panicked and ran out of the house, he himself jumping to the ground from the veranda.
Sosa was fast asleep and was left behind, but as the house continued to shake, she woke up and tried to find her way out.
She started calling out to her parents, as she tried to walk down the steps to them but with the continuous shakes, she lost balance and fell awkwardly, landing on her hands.
“She started crying in pain, calling my name,’’ Sammy said.
"Amidst all the panic and confusion, I went to find her and found her crying in pain.
 “I tried to comfort her and keep her steady, not knowing whether the earthquake would continue or not, at the same time trying to keep my family together. I felt totally lost and hopeless for my family.’’
The Oil Search emergency response team visited Huiya on Sunday March 11th but could not stay long due to bad weather. Sammy told the team about young Soma’s condition.
The team returned to Huiya on Tuesday
when the weather improved.
Sosa was administered some painkillers and advised to wait for the helicopter to arrive.
“Tenk yu Oil Search, na tenk yu long ol dokta na nurse ol kam lukim mipla na helpim Sosa. Sapos ol ino kam, mi no save long wanem samtin bai kamap long pikinini blong mi. (Thank you Oil Search, thank you to the doctor and nurse that came to see us and help Sosa. If they didn’t turn up, I don’t know what I would do with my child,’’ Sammy said in Moro.
Sosa is now recovering at the Moro clinic and will have a cast placed on her hand.

Oil Search’s Dr Alben Yama shows young Soso some pictures to ease her into a clinic environment, away and outside of her familiar surroundings at Huiya village.

Oil Search has now visited more than 80 villages dropping of relief aid and providing medical assistance where required.
The company’s Moro clinic has attended to more than 166 patients, with seven evacuated to Port Moresby and five to Mendi and Tari respectively.

Israel sends generators to Papua New Guinea after deadly earthquake

by JNS, breakingisraelnews.com
March 13, 2018

“I will bless those who bless you And curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth Shall bless themselves by you.” Genesis 12:3 (The Israel Bible™)

In the wake of a devastating earthquake in Papua New Guinea, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs  Agency for International Development Cooperation has delivered 40 electricity generators to affected communities there.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Papua New Guinea’s prime minister Peter O’Neill in an Oct. 15, 2013 in Jerusalem.

Photo by: Photo by Kobi Gideon/GPO/FLASH90

The generators were delivered on March 8 by Yaron Sultan-Dadon, Pacific Islands adviser at the Israeli Embassy in Australia.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 26 left 100 people dead and cut off electricity to 150,000 residents. Israel was one of the first countries to send aid.
Then on March 8, the country was rocked by a 6.8 magnitude aftershock.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill thanked Israel for its friendship and support.
“Relations between Papua New Guinea and the State of Israel are strong, and our government and the people of PNG appreciate the support and friendship of Israel during these challenging times,” he said.
“We look forward to further cooperation and the enhancement of the close ties between our countries and our peoples.”

United Nations supports Government of Papua New Guinea in its earthquake response efforts

Relief supplies are starting to be distributed in earthquake affected areas of Papua New Guinea, with water, food, shelter, medicine and the provision of health services identified as the priority needs.
“We are working closely with the Papua New Guinea government to coordinate the earthquake response to ensure that relief supplies and services meet people’s most pressing needs, and reach the communities that need them most,” said UN Resident Coordinator, Gianluca Rampolla, said today.
 Rampolla said a lack of information from affected areas and disparities in information that is available has been a challenge to coordinating aid efforts. However, the development of a draft response outline document by the PNG National Disaster Centre (NDC) with support from the UN is expected to address many of the challenges the response has been facing.
NDC acting director, Martin Mose, said all information relating to the earthquake and affected areas must be channelled through the NDC to be processed accordingly for an effective response.
“We need reliable information to make good decisions for an effective response, and we must continue to work together with partners to achieve this,” said Mose.
Over half a million people have been affected by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the Highlands region of PNG on February 26, destroying homes and infrastructure, triggering landslides, and affecting water sources.
According to the National Disaster Centre, 270,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance, however, this figure may rise as more information becomes available.
Enga, Gulf, Hela, Southern Highlands and Western Highlands provinces have all suffered damage, with Hela and Southern Highlands worst affected.
Out of this, 37,000 need urgent assistance.
Understanding the full extent of the impact of the earthquake in remote or mountainous areas is severely challenging as physical access to many affected areas remains limited.
The United Nations through its agencies and partners have distributed emergency shelter materials to 200 households in Southern Highlands and Hela provinces. Bottled drinking water mobile water purification units, water storage tanks, and food packs have also been distributed by partners.
The UN has also sent vaccines to Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga and Western Highlands provinces, which will be used to immunise infants and pregnant women, to prevent an outbreak of disease.
A health emergency team visited Hela and Southern Highlands provinces last week to provide immediate medical assistance, assess damage to health facilities and plan for the rapid resumption of life-saving health services.
Safe spaces for vulnerable women and young girls are being established, and dignity kits are being distributed.
Last week, a team of emergency experts from the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) deployed to PNG following the Prime Minister’s declaration of a State of Emergency, to assist the PNG Government in assessments, response coordination, logistics and information management.
The team will deploy to Mt Hagen, Mendi and Tari on Tuesday Tuesday, March 13,  to augment the Government-led response coordination.
“The UNDAC is working closely with the NGOs and UN agencies who are in the field, and are supporting the provincial administration to strengthen the response to get aid to those who need it as quickly as possible in a highly challenging operating environment,” said Rampolla.
Situation updates from the PNG Disaster Management Team Secretariat are available here:
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/papua-new-guinea/document/papua-new-guinea-75-earthquake-situation-report-1-10march2018
-United Nations

Papua New Guinea – Australia partnership helping to restore power across the Highlands

 Papua New Guinea and Australia are working together to restore critical power supplies across parts of Southern Highlands and Hela provinces following the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
Working closely with PNG Power Ltd, Australia has provided up to A$400,000 (just over PGK1 million) for the purchase and delivery of 10 80kva transformers that are needed to restore power across parts of Hela Province and Southern Highlands, which have a combined population exceeding 750,000.

Carolyn Blacklock, acting Managing Director of PNG Power Ltd, Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis, Hela Governor Philip Undialu and Southern Highlands disaster committee co-ordinator and representative of the Southern Highlands Governor’s office Dr John Kuimb during the handover of new generators.

The transformers will see reliable power restored to some 3,500 PNG Power customers, including businesses, health clinics, schools and family homes.
Power is critical to businesses across the region.
PNG Power estimates that the economic impact of the power outages caused by the earthquake already exceeds K4 million in losses to local businesses.
Hospitals and schools across the region are also reliant on reliable power supply to maintain their normal operations.

Hela Governor Philip Undialu and Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis with the new generators before they were transported to parts of Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

The new ABB transformers were delivered by a Hevilift ATR freighter aircraft to Mt Hagen on Saturday.
Immediate transit on to Mendi and Tari was arranged via helicopter to ensure the transformers could be delivered as rapidly as possible.
 PNG Power is now working to install the transformers in locations across the two provinces in order to re-establish reliable power supplies to critical infrastructure.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill welcomed the close partnership with Australia to support communities impacted by the earthquake.
“Papua New Guinea welcomes Australia’s response to provide humanitarian relief and essential infrastructure to those most in need. This reflects our true partnership,” he said.
Carolyn Blacklock, acting managing-director of PNG Power Ltd, was pleased by the rapid response.
“This was an excellent collaboration between PNG Power Ltd and Australia, with valuable assistance from Cardno and Hevilift," she said.
"Close teamwork has enabled us to respond very rapidly to restore the power network at a time when it is most needed."
Australian High Commissioner  Bruce Davis noted Australia’s commitment to supporting PNG in this difficult time.
“Australia will support Papua New Guinea’s efforts, both in the initial humanitarian response and in future reconstruction efforts, in the wake of this terrible disaster,” he said.
“We are very pleased to have been able to provide this immediate support to PNG Power to reconnect businesses and communities across the region.
"This effort is a very powerful example of what we can achieve when we work together.” - Story and pictures by Australian High Commission

Oil Search provide urgent relief food, medical supplies to Bosavi

Oil Search yesterday provided medical treatment to 44 people at Huiya in the Mt Bosavi area and medevacked four to the company clinic at Moro.
The company’s emergency response team visited Bosavi with food, shelter, clean drinking water and medical supplies.

CHECKING IN – A pregnant mother from Huiya at the Mt Bosavi area was medevacked to the Oil Search clinic at Moro yesterday, and as is being accompanied by the Oil Search medical team by mid wife Lily Elizah, Dr Alben Yamba and medic Russell Banks (right)

The medical team, who are members of the emergency response team provided on the spot treatment to the 44.
Providing food, fresh water, shelter and access to medical services and facilities remains Oil Search’s top priority for the people affected by the recent earthquake in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.
This is based on assessments conducted by the company emergency response teams that are visiting villages in the two provinces.
The teams take food and medical supplies with them and provide on the spot medical treatment and medevac the serious cases back to the company clinic at Moro or the Hela Provincial Hospital in Tari.
The Oil Search medical team has treated 44 patients in its Moro base clinic, and the number is expected to increase as the team travels to more locations.
Thirty patients have been treated and discharged, with five evacuated to Hela Provincial Hospital in Tari, and seven evacuated to Port Moresby.

GOING HOME: Women and children who were medevacked from Kekero village last week to the Oil Search clinic have been treated and discharged today, riding home in the helicopter.

The medical response team comprises a medical doctor and medic who conduct rapid assessment at every village, including the state of the village and health centre, and any patients suffering from injury or illness.
To date, the team has completed 19 rapid village assessments and seven regional hospital and health centre assessments.
A total of 22 health centre kits, which comprise medication and consumables have been delivered to the four regional districts – Komo-Magarima, Koroba-Kopiago, Tari-Pori and Nipa-Kutubu.
This information is shared with the National Government and the Hela and Southern Highlands Provincial governments to assist with their relief coordination efforts.
The company commenced earthquake emergency response to affected areas on March 1, and has since reached well over 35,000 people in 42 villages visits.
The Oil Search emergency response teams have returned to an additional 12 villages, reaching about a further 20,000 people.
“We will continue to work with the National Government and its agencies, and other partners, where we can, to address the critical needs of our communities in this difficult time,’’ Oil Search managing director Peter Botten says.
The company has also committed K16 million in cash and kind towards the earthquake relief efforts.
Oil Search’s logistics base at Moro is now the hub for relief effort coordination, working with the PNG Government, the Australian and New Zealand governments, for the use of their Hercules C130 aircrafts, which are moving bulk cargo from Port Moresby and Mt Hagen to Moro for distribution to affected areas.
This was boosted over the weekend with the arrival of two Australian Deference Force Chinooks helicopters, supporting the relief efforts.
Disaster coordination officials are also based at Moro, along with partners such
as the Australian Government, New Zealand Government, MRDC and ExxonMobil who are all contributing to relief efforts.
The Oil Search emergency response teams are distributing food – initially biscuits and water, and then on
the second visit they bring rice, tinned fish, tinned meat, cooking oil, salt, carpentry items, fresh drinking water, purchased by Oil Search as well as distributing other items donated by the Australian government, New Zealand Government and other partners such as Trukai Industries Ltd.
 Water containers and tanks are also being distributed.
Meanwhile, Oil Search is sending a barge to Kikori in the Gulf province relief supplies comprising clean drinking water, water treatment and purifying tablets, tanks and water containers, for the earthquake victims there.- Story and pictures by Oil Search Ltd

Israel to provide generators and other support to earthquake affected communities in Papua New Guinea

The State of Israel, through MASHAV, the Israeli agency for international development cooperation, has confirmed it stands ready to assist Papua New Guinea in relief efforts being deployed in the highlands regions impacted by the recent 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

Following diplomatic correspondence between Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, arrangements have been made for immediate support.

“I have advised Prime Minister Netanyahu of the immediate needs at the impacted regions, including lack of electric power,” O’Neill said.

“The Israeli Government has responded immediately by delivering 40 generators to Papua New Guinea.

“These generators will provide immediate assistance to communities suffering from damage to critical infrastructure.

“The earthquake has left many locations with no electricity, and restoration of power is essential for these communities.

“The generators will assist in restoring many vital capabilities, such as the provision of water, medicine, communication and other essential services.”

O'Neill thanked Israel for being a true friend of PNG following the unprecedented earthquake disaster in the Highlands.

“Relations between Papua New Guinea and the State of Israel are strong, and our Government and the people of PNG appreciate the support and friendship of Israel during these challenging times," he said.

“We look forward to further cooperation and the enhancement of the close ties between our countries and our peoples.”

 O’Neill and Netanyahu enjoy a close relationship, strengthened during the historical visit by Prime Minister O’Neill to Israel in 2013.

The generators were delivered by the Israeli Foreign Ministry Pacific Islands advisor, Yaron Sultan-Dadon, who has been sent to deliver aid and assess other possible avenues for assistance through Israeli expertise.

Oil Search commits K16 million to earthquake relief

Managing-director of Oil Search Peter Botten announced today that Oil Search will donate up to K16 million (US$5 million) in cash and kind to support disaster relief efforts in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

Oil Search general manager-stakeholder engagement Leon Buskens assisting to move relief supplies at the Pimaga government station in Southern Highlands province where Oil Search today brought medical supplies, food, water, tarpaulins and sleeping mats. These were supplied by Oil Search and the Australian government.

In supporting Government’s initial efforts, Oil Search has already made its Moro base available as a coordination hub for relief efforts.
Oil Search helicopters and personnel have commenced distribution of initial emergency aid, provided by a range of donors and NGOs and food and supplies donated by Oil
Search, to the hardest hit villages, including Pimaga, where over 2000 people who have lost homes and livelihood are sheltering.

Oil Search general manager-stakeholder engagement Leon Buskens assisting to move relief supplies at the Pimaga government station in Southern Highlands where Oil Search today brought medical supplies, food, water, tarpaulins and sleeping mats. These were supplied by Oil Search and the Australian government.

The damage caused by the recent earthquake is unprecedented,  Botten said: “Communities are without basic necessities.
" We are deeply concerned about the welfare of these communities and are working very closely with the PNG Government’s National Disaster Restoration Team and respective provincial disaster committees to provide assistance, in close partnership with other donors, including the Australia and New
Zealand governments.
"With the important infrastructure in Southern Highlands and Hela so severely impacted by the earthquake, the Moro facilities are an important hub for aid distribution.
"We want to play our part by providing our facilities, people, aircraft, immediate food and relief supplies in helping Government to address the critical needs of our communities in the Highlands.
"Our sympathies and prayers go out to alli mpacted by these tragic events.”

Oil Search general manager-stakeholder engagement Leon Buskens addressing people at Pimaga government station in Southern Highlands where Oil Search today brought medical supplies, food, water, tarpaulins and sleeping mats. These were supplied by Oil Search and the Australian government.

The Australian government has begun to fly in supplies to Moro through Australian Defence Force Hercules planes loaded with water, shelter, medicine, cooking pots, bedding, blankets and other supplies.
New Zealand’s first load of emergency supplies lands tomorrow (Monday).
Oil Search helicopters have commenced distribution of this material to areas across Hela and Southern Highlands.
Trukai Industries has donated 20 tonnes of rice and Oil Search has delivered to Moro over K1 million in food packets that are assembled based on international nutritional guidelines.
Oil Search is also connuing with separate charters loaded with emergency supplies.
These will progressively be distributed to communities in need, over the coming days and weeks.
“We have also responded to calls from the Southern Highlands Provincial Health Authority for medical assistance by transporting a medical team to Pimaga, along with emergency medical supplies," Bitten said.
"Medical supplies, provided by the PNG Government and flown to Moro by the Australia Defence Force, have now been delivered to Tari Hospital addressing dwindling stocks
"In the meantime, our engineering and construction resources have been sent from Kopi working north and Kutubu working south, to open the Kopi to Kutubu road, as an alternative to the Highlands Highway.
"This road can become an important route for supply of food, fuel and restoration equipment to earthquake-impacted areas.
“We will continue to help authorities, where we can, to address the critical needs of our communities in this
difficult time.”

State of emergency declared in Highlands earthquake, K450 million for relief and restoration

Prime Minister  Peter O’Neill has announced that an immediate state-of-emergency has been declared for Highlands earthquake disaster areas in Hela, Southern Highlands, Western and Enga.
The National Executive Council has further approved K450 million for relief operations and to restore services, as well as the formation of an emergency disaster restoration team and the establishment of a restoration authority.
"This is an unprecedented disaster in the Highlands region and the appropriate response is underway by the National Government,” O'Neill said.
"A state-of-Emergency has been declared to expedite the restoration of essential public services including healthcare services, schools, road access, airports, power and communications facilities.
“An amount of K450 million has been approved for disaster relief, services restoration and the rebuilding of infrastructure.
“An emergency disaster restoration team, led by Dr William Hamlin, as the emergency controller, will now manage and co-ordinate all restoration activities working with provincial authorities.
“The emergency disaster restoration team will be supported by Department of Works and Implementation, and all other relevant Government agencies.
"Cabinet has further approved the establishment of a restoration authority that will manage long-term reconstruction efforts over a four-year period to fully restore normalcy.
“An emergency session of Parliament will be convened for the presentation of legislation that will establish the restoration authority, with the date of the session to be announced by the Speaker of Parliament."
O'Neill said relief efforts were already underway, and further assessments provided to focus operations to areas in need.
"Members of the PNGDF and disaster officers were dispatched to the affected areas immediately following the earthquake, and are working with provincial authorities, particularly with the governors of Hela and Southern Highlands provinces," he said.
“Essential government departments are already delivering relief, and we are further working with partners in the international community to utilise specialist relief capabilities to reach our people and communities affected by the earthquake.”

Royal Australian Air Force assists Papua New Guinea after earthquake

The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed a C-130J Hercules to Papua New Guinea to provide assistance, following the earthquake that occurred in the early morning of February 26, 2018.

Unloading relief supplies at Moro Airport

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Highlands region, particularly Hela and Southern Highlands provinces, approximately 600km north-west of Port Moresby.
The C-130J Hercules left from RAAF Base Richmond on  March 1,  2018 and arrived in Port Moresby, where it has begun distributing humanitarian aid bound for earthquake affected areas.
The medium-sized tactical air-lifter has also been requested to conduct aerial surveillance of affected areas in support of thePNG Government.

Back of the aircraft

Humanitarian duty officer at the Australian High Commission in PNG,  Darian Clark, said the earthquake affected many of the peoples living within the PNG highlands.
“This was the biggest earthquake in a hundred years and it spread 150km across the fault line,”  Clark said.
“A number of urban settlements, as well as villages, have been affected.

Humanitarian supplies

" Many in the form of landslides and landslips, which means that roads have been cut off, water contaminated, power knocked out and other widespread effects for the local people.
“This is the first round of humanitarian relief supplies to be provided to the affected area and we understand there is a desperate need for the items we’re taking up.
" So I think the priority of what we are doing cannot be understated.
“We have a mixture of medical supplies and equipment; tarps, tents, blankets and water containers, the essentials of life, following a formal request we received from the Papua New Guinea Government on Wednesday.
“It really confirms the solidarity that Australia has with Papua New Guinea, in times of crisis.
" It has all been made possible, of course, by the C-130J here in country.
"It means that we have been able to respond even quicker than we hoped for.”
Further assessments of the impact, including in remote areas, will be required before the level of damage caused by the earthquake and ongoing aftershocks can be ascertained.
C-130J Hercules Captain, Squadron Leader Justin Della Bosca, said the aircrew from Number 37 Squadron train for these specific kind of emergencies.
“The C-130J Hercules is a medium tactical air-lifter and Number 37 Squadron specialises in highland of Papua New Guinea operations.
"We conduct a lot of training throughout the year to ensure we are ready for this exact kind of emergency,” Squadron Leader Della Bosca said.
“The Hercules has extremely good short field performance and extremely good hot temperature and high altitude performance as well.
"This means we can lift a large amount of cargo out of very short airstrips.
“The Papua New Guinea environment is probably one of the most challenging aviation environments in the world, so all of the pilots at Number 37 Squadron have a lot of respect for the weather and the terrain in Papua New Guinea.”
The thoughts and sympathies of the Royal Australian Air Force are with the Papua New Guinean people affected by the earthquake.

ExxonMobil provides US$1 million for earthquake relief efforts in Papua New Guinea

• Company assisting in relief and recovery efforts; flies relief organizations to affected area
• Working closely with government agencies to determine where and how to direct resources
• Assessment of company operations and facilities continues

IRVING, Texas – Exxon Mobil Corporation said today that it is providing $1 million for the humanitarian relief effort in Papua New Guinea to assist communities affected by a powerful earthquake and aftershocks in the country’s Highlands area.
“We are deeply saddened by the devastation this earthquake has brought to Papua New Guinea,” said Darren W. Woods, chairman and chief executive officer.
"Our highest priority remains the safety and security of people in the Highlands community.
It’s our hope that our contributions of funding, equipment
and other support will provide some relief in a very challenging situation.”
ExxonMobil is assisting national and international aid agencies and relief organisations with rapid response community assessments.
 The company is sourcing tarpaulins, water purification tablets, waterc ontainers, food and other humanitarian supplies, and is working with essential service providers to pre-position and distribute resources to areas in the greatest need.
 ExxonMobil is also helping to reestablish reliable communications, providing phones to relief agencies and organising community meetings.
“In response to the prime minister’s immediate state of emergency, we have committed to deploying our
expertise and resources to aid recovery efforts in the wake of this natural disaster,” said Andrew Barry, managing director of ExxonMobil PNG.
 “We are working closely with the National Disaster Centre, aid
agencies and our community partners to determine where best to direct our resources.”
On Thursday, ExxonMobil, utilising a company-chartered helicopter, led a team of emergency assessment and relief personnel on one of the first visits to the Highlands area since the disaster.
On board were disaster assessors from international aid agencies and representatives of various relief organiSations including the United Church, Salvation Army, International Organisation for Migration,dventist Development and Relief Agency and the United Nations Development Programme.
Anticipating immediate resource needs, the team delivered essentials, including shelter equipment, water and sanitation support to the Para Health Clinic, which serves the Para, Tokaju and Hides areas.

Status of ExxonMobil’s Papua New Guinea operations

The company continues to assess operations and facilities in the country.
 Operations have been safely shut down at two liquefied natural gas trains at its PNG LNG plant near Port Moresby, the Hides Gas
Conditioning Plant and Hides well pads in Hela province, and non-essential personnel from the Hides plant have been evacuated.
There is no damage to the pipeline and no reports of gas leaks from the complexes.

Dot Island

By Moasing Nalu

Oh how peaceful you are
My beautiful island home
Your turquoise seas and lush green hills
Are Mother Nature's splendour

Your colourful reefs and tropical trees
Are the best things I've ever seen
And when the sun goes down
Cool breezes come around

And palm trees sway and swing
As if they're dancing to the wind
And the melody 
The ocean sings

At last when the sun goes down
And brightness begins to fade
From a distance I can see a majestic sight
Which fills me with pride

-Picture by Milen Stiliyanov
PS: Dot Island is in Laukanu, Salamaua, Morobe

Death of rugby league star unites PNG

The shackles of regionalism and tribalism that so divided Papua New Guinea have been broken.

Tears fell freely for most. A moment they shall never forget, as s the death of our champion brought together a nation.

It has taken the life of a 23-year-old rugby league star to do that.
Papua New Guinea international Kato Ottio died on Tuesday after he collapsed at training in Port Moresby.

The sight that moved everyone to tears. Joyce Ottio, mother of Kumuls' superstar Kato Ottio, is comforted by Widnes Vikings-bound Wellington Albert after the funeral service at Sir John Guise Stadium. Ottio and Albert were to have left for England on Thursday, but for Ottio's death.

Ottio spent the last two years with the Canberra Raiders and had just signed with English Super League club Widnes Vikings following his stellar World Cup campaign.
Thousands of people gathered at the Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium on Friday to pay their final respects to a young man who had so touched our lives with his performance during the World Cup.

Hunters' and Kumuls' coach Michael Marum breaks down as he hands Kato Ottio's red, black and gold jumper to his mother Joyce Ottio at Friday's funeral service.

Tears fell freely for most, a moment they shall never forget, as the death of our champion brought together a nation.

We came together. All shackles of regionalism and tribalism broken. It had taken the life of a young man, who touched us all with his rugby league skills, to bring us together.

Ottio and PNG Kumuls' teammate Wellington Albert were to have left for England on Thursday after signing up with the Vikings last month.

He ain't heavy, he's my brother: Kumuls' team mates carry the casket of Kato Ottio out of the Sir John Guise Stadium.

Ottio will be buried at his Tatana village in Port Moresby next Tuesday.

Farewell Kato Ottio. Thank you for the wonderful memories.

Respect: Hundreds line up Sir John Guise Drive as the hearse carrying the body of Kato Ottio leaves after the funeral service at the indoor stadium.

Pilot was a world-class pianist

The National

North Coast Aviation Pilot David Tong, who lost his life in the rugged Saruwaged Range of Morobe in the Dec 23 air crash, was not just an ordinary aviator.

He was one of the top pianists in Australia and the world.

He could have chosen to remain in the top music halls of the world but opted to fly in Papua New Guinea.

David Tong the pianist at a concert.-Picture by Greater Geraldton Regional Library website.

David Tong with North Coast Aviation chief pilot Thomas Keindip in March 2017. Kendip died on Nov 26, 2017, after a short illness.-Picture from Thomas Keindip Facebook page

That fact about Tong’s life became known after his death.

His body, meantime, remain at the funeral home in Lae until funeral arrangements are made this week.

His mother flew in from Australian to see the body of her son and was moved to tears after seeing the display of emotions shown by NCA staff and the people of Morobe

According to the Greater Geraldton Regional Library website of Australia: “Born in Macao in 1983, David Tong migrated to Australia in 1988 and soon began taking piano lessons.

“Following an extensive period of study, he went on to study at the prominent Juilliard School of Music in New York and was awarded the Vladimir Horowitz scholarship.

“In addition to having been a frequent guest artist with all Australian symphony orchestras, David was regularly invited to appear with many of today’s top orchestras including the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra in Budapest, New York Philharmonic, as well as with the philharmonic orchestras of Rochester, Naples (Florida), and Hong Kong

“Of significant importance in David’s career was a performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the 2002 Sydney Festival’s Gala Domain Concert, where he performed to an audience of more than 90,000 people.”

Since 2014, Tong had worked as a commercial pilot.

He was based in Geraldton and worked as a line pilot for Geraldton Air Charter before moving to PNG in 2016 to join North Coast Aviation.

Tong, 34, survived the crash and made calls on his mobile but bad weather prevented rescuers from reaching him for three days.

The pianist Zsolt Bognar writes: “It is with great sadness that I learn my old friend David Tong was found dead on Tuesday from injuries sustained in a plane crash.

“I remember first meeting him in Texas in 2001 and being struck by his sunshine-filled spirit, his strong Australian accent, and vivacious temperament.

“He was an incredible pianist with a breathtaking technique–I remember how he burst into my practice room and deployed Chopin Etudes with ease–and as a human being and friend he will be missed.

“What devastating news.”

###

Late December 2017

By Malum Nalu

I take a walk along 2017 Lane
Enjoying the late December weather
Place looks glorious
After the 12th month rain

At every corner
Fresh fruit and vegetables
A good feeling in my heart
A spring in my step for 2018

Governor-General pays tribute to bush pilots of Morobe

Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae says the loss of another North Coast Aviation pilot is a great loss to the people of Kabwum, Morobe and Papua New Guinea.
The former Kabwum MP said this yesterday when passing his condolences to NCA on the loss of  Australian pilot, David Tong, after a Britten Norman Islander  crash on Mt Saruwaged in the rugged Saruwaged Range of Morobe last Saturday.
His death comes after that of NCA's chief pilot Captain Thomas Keindip, from Kabwum, after a short illness last month.

North Coast Aviation pilots Thomas Kendip and David Tong at Tari Airport, Hela, in June this year.

Tong crashed into Mt Saruwaged, the fourth highest mountain in the country at 13,520 feet above sea level, in very bad weather when returning to Lae from Kabwum.
From Melbourne, Australia, Tong joined NCA in Nov 2016 and has been described by friends and family as a friendly and likeable person.
He was alive when he crashed at 9000ft and called NCA at Nadzab on his mobile phone, however, bad weather prevented rescue teams from going in.

North Coast Aviation pilots Thomas Kendip and David Tong at Tari Airport, Hela, in June this year.

It was only on Tuesday, four days after the crash, that a search-and-rescue team from Porgera mine went into the crash site but Tong was already dead.
The death has already sparked off much controversy over search-and-rescue efforts, given that the crash site is not that far away from Nadzab, and the fact that he was alive at the time of the crash.

David Tong, Thomas Keindip and a fellow North Coast Aviation pilot at Teptep airstrip in Kabwum, Morobe, earlier this year.

Sir Bob said it was only because of dedicated NCA pilots like Tong and Keindip that goods and services had reached Kabwum over the years.
"Lady Hannah and I, on behalf of our family, people of Kabwum, Morobe and PNG would like to express our deepest sorrow and sadness to the family, management and staff of NCA for the death of another experienced pilot (Tong) in a short time after we lost Capt Thomas (Keindip) not long ago," he said.
"Having benefitted so much from NCA during my 30 years service in the province, I am very saddened by these tragedies.
"May God give everyone peace."

The man I never knew

By Malum Nalu

As I look into the face in the photo
Into the eyes of the man I never knew

I see the pain
The hurt

He shows me the cloud-covered Saruwaged
The treetops
I hear the crunch
As the plane hits the branches

I see the hope in his eyes
As he makes an SOS
Hoping against hope
In the freezing cold as the pain sets in

I see the hurt
Of missing Christmas with loved ones
Help is not coming
Darkness is closing in

- To the Memory of David Tong
Who lost his life in the Saruwaged Range
Serving the people of Kabwum, Morobe and Papua New Guinea